Double-face adhesive tape and protective cover therefor



March 31, 1953 w, M, SCHOLL 2,633,440

7 DOUBLE-FACE ADHESIVE TAPE AND PROTECTIVE COVER THEREFOR Filed May 27, 1950 fizz 517K01 [4437110272 M fiakaZZ Patented Mar. 31, 1953 DOUBLE-FACE ADHESIVE TAPE AND PROTECTIVE COVER THEREFOR William M. Scholl, Chicago, 111.

Application May 27, 1950, Serial No. 164,697 3 Claims." (Cl. 154-535) This invention relates to improvements in a double-face adhesive tape and a protective cover therefor, the tape being highly desirable for use in connection with the attachment of articles of apparel, make-up devices, and other items to the human body, although the tape will have other and various uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the past, adhesive tape has been utilized to hold various articles of apparel, make-up devices, and other items to the body of a user. Wigs, false beards, and similar make-up items have been held to the body by adhesive tape, but not in a manner entirely satisfactory. Now, with the advent of strapless, stayless brassieres, such as the type comprising a pair of completely separated bust receiving cups each of which is adhesively adhered to the body of a user over a breast, with nothing but that adhesive to hold each individual cup in place, the provision of a satisfactory, secure, and non-irritant adhesive tape becomes highly important. This is especially true when each brassiere element is expected to not only effect the desired coverage, but also to support and mold the bust into a natural and figure flattering line.

Heretofore, liquid adhesive has been found frequently used, painted upon the brassiere element, and various other efforts have been made to provide a secure attachment of the article to the body, but in every instance of which I am aware securing means heretofore known have not proven satisfactory in that they would only sustain the brassiere element for a relatively short length of time, were not Waterproof, which is especially in substantially any desirable configuration, including reverse curves if so desired, with the marginal portion of the tape on the inside of a curve remaining perfectly flat.

A further feature of the invention resides in J the provision of a stretchable double-faced adnecessary when the brassiere element is worn as an outer garment as in the case of play suits and swim suits, and, of equal importance, were not of a type to give the wearer a feeling of security; Commonly known adhesive tape has been ineffective for this purpose, because the tape could not be attached to the body satisfactorily in the form of a flat curve, that is in a curvature having a radius transverse to the axis of the tape, without the inner edge of the tape buckling, wrinkling, or forming objectionable ridges. Extreme difficulty has been experienced in the proper handling of any tape-like arrangement having adhesive on both faces thereof because of the inability to curve the tape in the desired manner and have both the tape and the temporary cover remain in a flat condition. I

' With these thoughts in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a highly flexible double-faced adhesive tape which may be applied to a flat surface and curved or undulated hesive tape in which one marginal portion of the tape may be stretched while the opposite marginal portion remains in a contracted condition.

Another object of the invention resides in the provisionof a double-faced adhesive tape comprising a body of woven elastic or stretchable fabric, having an adhesive application on both sides thereof.

Another and important object of the instant invention is the provision of a double-faced adhesive tape having a temporary cover on one side thereof, which cover is arranged to yield with the tape in a flat curve without buckling or wrinkling or without tending to become loosened from the tape.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide an adhesive tape capable of being applied in the form of a flat arc, and provided with a cover over an adhesive surface thereof, which cover comprises a strip of material having a series of transversely extending slots in the marginal portion thereof.

Also a feature of the invention resides in the provision of a flexible adhesive tape which may be applied in the form of a flat are or other confiuration including lateral curves, equipped with a covering adhered to a face of the tape and comprising a sheet of material transversely slitted along each margin thereof, the slits of one margin being staggered relatively to those in the other margin.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a'fiexibledouble-faced adhesive tape capable of being applied without wrinkling or buckling in the form of a flat curve or irregular shapes, and provided with a cover so arranged as to adhere to one face of the tape during the application of the other face in any desired shape, the entire tape and cover being readily rollable on the usual form of tape spool.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a highly flexible adhesive tape highly desirable for industrial purposes, owing to the fact that the tape with an external cover thereon, may be ap-' plied where desired in substantially any type of configuration or shape, eliminating the necessity of endeavoring to provide a distorted, irregular, or curve shape by the inaccurate application of small pieces of straight tape; as heretofore practiced.

Whilesome' of. the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a pictorial illustration showing brassiere-like garments held in position upon the body of a user by adhesive tape embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a top face view, with parts broken away, of adhesive tape and a temporary cover therefor, both embodying principles of the instant invention, showing the same before use;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing a tape applied in the form of a flat curve, with the temporary cover partially removed for purposes of clarity;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary magnified View of the fabric body of the adhesive tape showing the condition of the same when the tape is applied in the form of a flat curve; and

Figure 6 is a view illustrating my novel tape and cover for one side thereof rolled on a spool, to indicate that only a cover on one side of the double-face adhesive tape is necessary.

As shown on the drawings:

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a female body i clothed in an evening gown 2, and also provided with a pair of cup-like elements 3 and d which together take the place of a brassire. It will be noted that the elements 3 and l are entirely separated, each being separably positioned over a breast of the wearer, and each of these elements is held in position adhesively so as to eliminate any shoulder straps, back straps, or any form of connection between the elements in the front. Should the elements be used to support or mold the bust as well as provide a decorative covering therefor, the positive adherence of the elements to the body is even more essential.

To support one of the elements 3 or 4 in position, a flat circle of double-faced adhesive tape, generally indicated by numeral 5 in Fig. 1, may be utilized, one surface of the adhesive tape adhering to the body of a wearer while the other surface adheres to the respective bust covering element, It is a matter of convenience as to whether or not the adhesive tape is first attached to the elements or to the body. However, the tape must be flatly attached both to the body and the element, without buckling or wrinkling so as to insure firm and secure adhesion.

With reference now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that my novel adhesive tape includes a fabric that is elastic or stretchable. This fabric is preferably woven to provide the necessary stretchability, and as shown in Fig. 5, may include a plurality of larger transversely disposed threads or strands 6, and a plurality of smaller longitudinal threads or strands I. These longitudinal strands are preferably tightly twisted before weaving, and by virtue of the twist therein, the strands will tend to contract and draw the transverse strands 6 close together. Thus, even though the fabric is stretchable, it has adequate recovery power, the same as though a true elastic element, such as rubber, were incorporated in it, and is inherently laterally flexible.

To the fabric a suitable adhesive, preferably of a non-irritating character, may be applied to form opposed adhesive faces 8 and 9 as seen in Fig. 4. The adhesive may be applied uniformly, applied somewhat in patches, and may be of the porous type, if ventilation is desired through the tape.

The double-face adhesive tape may have one face thereof, in the illustrated instance the face 9, covered with any suitable form of temporary protective covering, such as the commonly known crinoline iii, in the event it is desirable to furnish the tape in flat strip form for certain purposes. Most frequently, of course, the tape will be rolled upon a spool and sold to the ultimate purchaser in that manner. It should be particularly noted that where the tape is rolled, as shown in Fig. 6, the temporary cover I0 is not necessary and should not be used. However, it is essential to include a covering over the other face 3 of the adhesive tape, and that covering must remain on in order to enable the user to securely afilx the other adhesive face 9 to the body or to something to be attached to the body, such as the element 4.

As seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, this second temporary covering i I may comprise a strip of fabric, such as crinoline, paper, or any other suitable substance that will not detract from the adhesive properties of the tape face 3. The covering H is in the form of a strip, and is provided with spaced transverse slits 12 extending inwardly from one side edge thereof to substantially the middle portion of the strip, and similar transverse slits l3 extending inwardly from the opposite side edge, the strips i2 being in staggered relationship to the strips IS in the preferable form. Obviously, the assembly including the double face tape and the temporary covering strip H may be rolled up on the usual form on an adhesive tape spool, as shown in Fig. 6. When the tape is so rolled, the temporary. cover I0 is not used, because the outer face of the slit cover H functions to temporarily protect the adhesive face 9 of the tape.

In use the present invention is extremely simple and positive in its action. First, a desired length of tape is selected, and cut off the roll. The tape may then be applied, for example on the body of the wearer firstly, in any desired configuration, fiatly against the skin. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the tape applied in a form of a flat circle substantially as seen in Fig. 1. To this end, the temporary covering II remains on the tape so that the fingers of the user will not adhere to the upper adhesive surface 8. In the application of the tape in the form of a flat curve, the fabric of the tape will stretch more adjacent one margin thereof than adjacent the other margin thereof as indicated in the showing in Fig. 5, wherein a noticeably greater space between the transverse strands 5 is found at the top of the figure than at the bottom of the figure. Thus, the edge of the tape inside the curve does not buckle, wrinkle, form ridges, or in any other manner become distorted, but lies flatly against the skin with full adhering power.

At the same time, the temporary cover H follows the contour of the tape and does not tend to become loose therefrom. It will be noted from the showing in Fig. 3 that the slits l3 will expand, while the marginal portions of the cover adjacent the slits 12 will tend to overlap, but the covering remains affixed to the adhesive surface 8 of the tape. Thus, the cover while remaining securely affixed to the adhesive surface of the tape, readily permits the application of the tape in any desired configuration flatly upon the body, and does not tend to become loose from the tape or tend to cause the tape to wrinkle. After the tape is applied to the body in the desired configuration, it is a simple expedient to strip the temporary cover from the tape as also indicated in Fig. 3, and then the cup-like element 4 or whatever else may be desired to be attached to the body may be securely pressed against the surface 8 of the tape.

Obviously, the tape may be manufactured on standard tape making machinery, in an economical manner. The staggering of the slits l2 and 13 in the temporary cover permits this cover to be made of substantially any width, and then slit through the central portion of one set of slits to a desired width. For example, should the temporary cover ll be made wider than illustrated in Fig. 2, each set of slits l2 and 13 would be made substantially twice as long, and then the tape might be slit centrally through the slits l2 and centrally through the slits I3 to produce the width illustrated in this figure.

It should further be especially noted that while the present invention has been herein described for purposes of clarity in connection with the attachment of an article of apparel to the human body, the invention will also have a wide industrial use. The fact that the tape may be applied flatly with the cover ll thereon in substantially any desired curvature or irregular contour greatly facilitates its use as a masking tape as Well as in many other ways.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel, economical, and highly efiicient double-face adhesive tape together with a flexible temporary cover therefor, both the tape and its attached cover being applicable to the body or any other surface in substantially any desired configuration, without the tape wrinkling, buckling, or otherwise becoming distorted, and without the cover tending to break loose from the tape or cause wrinkles in the tape.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected Without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An adhesive tape assembly, including a strip of laterally flexible fabric positionable in a lateral curve while remaining fiat entirely thereacross, an adhesive surface on said strip, and a flexible temporary cover over said adhesive surface yieldable therewith while remaining flatly adhered thereto during lateral curving of the strip.

2. An adhesive tape assembly, including a strip of laterally flexible fabric positionable in a lateral curve while remaining flat entirely thereacross, an adhesive surface on each side of said strip, and a flexible temporary covering over one of said adhesive surfaces and having spaced slits extending inwardly from opposed margins to enable the covering to follow lateral curving of the tape fabric.

3. An adhesive tape assembly, including a strip of laterally flexible fabric positionable in a lateral curve while remaining fiat entirely thereacross, an adhesive surface on each side of said strip, and a flexible temporary covering over each of said adhesive surfaces, each said covering having spaced slits extending inwardly from opposed margins to enable the covering to follow lateral curving of the tape fabric.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,277,871 Craft Sept. 3, 1918 1,322,257 Miller Nov. 18, 1919 2,030,135 Carpenter Feb. 11, 1936 2,046,988 Winter July 7, 1936 2,096,564 Scholl Oct. 19, 1937 2,098,127 Auger Nov. 2, 1937 2,229,982 Mansur et a1 Jan. 28, 1941 2,481,896 Ziegler Sept. 13, 1949 2,508,855 Brown May 23, 1950 

1. AN ADHESIVE TAPE ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A STRIP OF LATERALLY FLEXIBLE FABRIC POSITIONABLE IN A LATERAL CURVE WHILE REMAINING FLAT ENTIRELY THEREACROSS, AN ADHESIVE SURFACE ON SAID STRIP, AND A FLEXIBLE TEMPORARY COVER OVER SAID ADHESIVE SURFACE 